The grant portfolio of the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research: The first five years

Objective: To relate grant funding activities of the National Center for Me dical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) with the Center's mission, priorities , and terminology for disability classification. Study Design: Retrospective review by the National Advisory Board on Medica l Rehabilitation Research (NABMRR). Data: Abstracts of 153 research proposals and one contract funded by the NC MRR from 1992 through 1996. Method: A six-member research group participated in the development of a ra ting form and related instructions used to evaluate each abstract. The form was piloted and revised, and interrater agreement was monitored. Results: Funded proposals reflected each of the NCMRR priorities evaluated, with the highest proportion in the areas of assistive technology and whole body system, and the lowest in the area of behavioral adaptation. Although some proposals were funded in each of the domains of the disability classi fication system, proportionately fewer addressed the domains of disability and societal limitations. Findings also indicated that few funded proposals addressed more than one domain in the disability classification system and that most abstracts did not address consumers' perspectives an quality of life. Recommendations: The NABMRR recommended that the NCMRR (1) encourage more r esearch in the areas of disability and societal limitations and in behavior al adaptation, (2) examine funded proposals in light of a recent Institute of Medicine report, and (3) explore quality-of-life measurements, Further, members of the rehabilitation community are encouraged to e-mail their resp onses to this review to NCMRR staff at [1q2n@nih.govA] and to suggest areas of research emphasis. (C) 1999 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.